How to Enable Regedit

This updated guide examines How to Enable Regedit and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

Using Run

1. Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Typeruninto Start. This will search your computer for the "Run" app.
3. ClickRun. It's at the top of the Start window. Run will open.
   • If you're on a computer where Run is disabled, you won't be able to open Run.
4. Typeregeditinto Run. This is the command to open the Registry Editor.
5. ClickOK. Doing so will run the Registry Editor open command. If the Registry Editor prompts you for permission and then opens when you click Yes , your problem is fixed.
   • If the Registry Editor doesn't open, you'll need to try another method in this article.
   • If you receive a pop-up window that says "Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator", you'll need to edit your Group Policy settings. This will only work if you control the Group Policy Editor on your network.

Method 2

Running a Security Scan

1. Disable any third-party antivirus programs. Third-party antivirus programs—that is, any antivirus program that isn't Windows Defender—can cause several different problems with your computer. Because of this, disable all antivirus protection that isn't Windows Defender before continuing.
2. Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
3. Typewindows defender security centerinto Start. This will search your computer for the Windows Defender application.
   • On some versions of Windows, this may show up simply as Windows Defender instead.
4. ClickWindows Defender Security Center. It's a white shield on a grey background. You'll see it at the top of the Start window.
5. Click the shield icon. This icon is in the upper-left corner of the Windows Defender page.
   • When expanded, this option is called Virus & threat protection .
6. ClickAdvanced scan. It's a link below the Quick scan button in the middle of the page.
   • On some versions of Windows Defender, click the Home tab instead as there is no Advanced Scan section.
7. Make sure "Full scan" is checked. Click the circle to the left of "Full scan" at the top of the page if it isn't already filled in.
8. ClickScan now. It's in the middle of the page. Windows Defender will start scanning your computer for malicious software that might be preventing Registry access.
9. Wait for the scan to complete. If anything malicious turns up during the scan, Windows Defender will alert you and give you the option of removing the dangerous items.
   • If this scan doesn't find anything, repeat the scan with "Windows Defender Offline scan" checked instead of "Full scan" checked.
10. Try to open Registry Editor. Once the scan completes, open Start , type inregedit, and press?Enter. If the Registry Editor still doesn't open, you'll need to try a different method.
    • You may need to restart your computer before you can access Registry Editor after the scan.

Method 3

Using Command Prompt

1. Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Typecommand promptinto Start. This will bring up the Command Prompt icon in the Start menu.
3. Right-clickCommand Prompt. It's at the top of the Start window. A drop-down menu will appear.
   • If your trackpad doesn't have a right mouse button, use two fingers to tap the trackpad instead.
4. ClickRun as administrator. It's an option in the drop-down menu.
   • If you aren't an administrator on this computer, you won't be able to complete this method.
5. ClickYeswhen prompted. Doing so will open Command Prompt in Administrator mode.
6. Enter the Registry refresh command. Typereg add "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem" /t Reg_dword /v DisableRegistryTools /f /d 0into Command Prompt, then press?Enter.
7. Close Command Prompt. Your command should have re-enabled the Registry Editor.
8. Try to open Registry Editor. Open Start , type inregedit, and press?Enter. If the Registry Editor doesn't open, proceed to the next step.
9. Restart your computer. Open Start , click the Power icon, and click Restart . Once your computer finishes restarting, you can try opening Registry Editor again.
   • If Registry Editor still won't open, you may be able to use a script to force it to open.

Method 4

Using Group Policy Editor

1. Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Typegroup policy editorinto Start. This will search your computer for the Group Policy Editor program.
3. Click theGroup Policy Editoricon. It's at the top of the Start menu. Group Policy Editor will open.
   • On some versions of Windows it may read Edit group policy instead.
4. Double-clickUser Configuration. Doing so will expand this item to display the folders below it.
   • Skip this step if User Configuration is already expanded.
   • If you don't see this option, first double-click the Local Computer Policy item at the top of the sidebar.
5. ClickAdministrative Templates. This folder is near the bottom of the User Configuration list of folders.
6. Double-click theSystemfolder. It's on the right side of the Group Policy Editor window.
7. Double-clickPrevent access to registry editing tools. You'll find this item on the right side of the window.
   • You may have to scroll down to find it.
8. Check the "Not Configured" box. It's in the upper-left side of the pop-up window.
9. ClickApply, then clickOK. These are both at the bottom of the window. Doing so should re-enable Registry Editor on your computer.
10. Try to open Registry Editor. Open Start , type inregedit, and press?Enter. If Registry Editor opens, you have successfully bypassed the Group Policy Editor restrictions.

Method 5

Using a Virtual Basic Script

1. Open a new Notepad document. Open Start , typenotepadin, and click the blue Notepad app. This will open a new Notepad document.
2. Copy the following code into the Notepad document:
3. ClickFile. It's in the top-left side of the Notepad window.
4. ClickSave As…. This option is near the top of the File drop-down menu.
5. Select a save location. Click the Desktop folder on the left side of the Save As window.
6. EnterRegistry Editor.vbsas the file name. Do this in the "File name:" field.
7. Select a file type. Click the drop-down box next to "Save as type:", then click All Files . This will save your document in the correct file format.
8. ClickSave. It's in the bottom-right corner of the Save As window. This will create your file.
9. Close Notepad. Click the X in the top-right corner of Notepad to do so.
10. Double-click the VBS file. Doing so will prompt the script to run.
    • This script will switch the registry editor's disabled/enabled setting. Do not run it a second time, or the registry editor will be disabled again.
11. Try to open Registry Editor. Open Start , type inregedit, and press?Enter. If the Registry Editor still won't open, you may need to take your computer into a tech department to have a professional look at it.